Tempering Steel by Lea Barrymire (Coyote Bluff #2)

After months of aching to be with grumpy Sheriff Connor Manning, Margarete Barrie finally gets her chance when a coyote shifter takes refuge in her home. She burns with need every time they’re close, but even she can only take rejection so many times before giving up.

Connor’s resolve to stay away from Margie weakens when she takes in his packmate. Fighting his inner animal and jealousy makes him question his decision to leave women and love alone.

Tempering Steel is the second book in Barrymire’s Coyote Bluff series and I am ecstatic to tell everyone that every single thing I found fault with in book one is gone and this one was a great read from beginning to end!

Connor’s surly attitude and Margie’s smart mouth had me chuckling throughout the read. I felt bad for Connor putting his foot in his mouth so often because he was trying to fight his mating instinct. Having been hurt once he was convinced that his animal didn’t know what it was doing trying to rub up against the sexy vet. As these two try to figure out who is setting animal traps in the woods surrounding the shifter town they find their attraction to be growing fast. Margie has no problems telling Connor exactly what she’s thinking and where he can take his growling, over the top reactions to seemingly benign situations. Especially if he isn’t willing to admit his feelings for her.

Unlike book one, there is not much action, instead focusing on the relationship between Connor and Margie as well as her integration into their pack. There is sexual tension in spades and when Connor finally got his head out of his ass and admitted his feelings it made for excellent reading.

Barrymire is quickly becoming one of my go to authors for my shifter fix. Her writing is complex without being confusing, and the steamy sex scenes are very well done. The town has a plethora of characters in which she needs to tap..hehe..for STORIES. I’m really looking forward to reading Zeke’s story and hope she also does one for the local Alpha. Each person she’s introduced has just jumped off the page with potential. Shifter stories can sometimes bleed together but coyotes are a species I’ve not read a ton about so they stand out in my mind and are unique.

If you’re looking for an easy shifter romance heavy on the romance than you might enjoy this one as much as I did!